Machine for setting potatoes



m ze, w24., M8432@Irv vJ. F. LJUNGDAHL Y MAcHmE Foa sprT- ii'G-"PQTATQE'S,

Filedfsepgqg, 1,923" s sheets-sheet;

Feb. 26, E92@ 84J26 J. F. I JUNGDAHL MACHINE FOR SETTING POTATOES Filed Sept. 6, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 llllll:m I

y] lq Patented 1? eh. 26, i924.

Mhtilf@ ildh y. .rannnrannnrx LJUNGBAHL, or srocxrrome,v swnpnn.`

. MACHINE FOR SETTNG POTATOES.

Application filed September 6, 1923.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JANNE FRnDRm LJUNcDAI-IL, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Stockholm, Sweden, have inventedv certain new and usefuly lmprovements in Machines for Setting lfotatoes, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention relates to machines for setting potatoes of that type, in which the potatoes falling down from a receptacle or fed from the same in anyy suitable manner are caught by a rotating member, for 1nstance a wheel, provided with needles or projections, andare held by the same for a certain period.

ln order that machines of the said type may operate satisfactorily it is necessary that the needles, when located right under the feed opening of the said receptacle, are stationary for a certain period, so that the falling down potato in a reliable manner sticks fast to the needle or needles pointing upwards. For that reason one of the objects of this invent-ion is to transmit the movement from the supporting wheels of the machine to the needle-wheel or wheels by such means, that the needle-wheel or wheels are rotated intermittently while the machine is moved forwards. According to the invention means are provided for securing the needle-wheel or Wheels inV their position of rest, so that the needles in a reliable manner remain in their catching position below the feed opening of the receptacle.

Special means are provided in order that the potatoes, in spite of their different shapes and sizes, always may fall down from the feed opening of the receptacle. in distinct directions and leave the machine passing along distinct paths.

The member, catchingthe potatoes, is called needle-wheel in the following specification.

A form of the invention is shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a side View of a vfeed device arranged in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, some parts being omitted. Fig. 3 is a front view of a part of the machine. Fig. 4t shows the device viewed from the opposite side with respect to Fig. 1, some parts being omitted. Figs. 5 to 13 inclusive show details.

The machine is mounted on supporting wheels and, if wanted, provided with adjust- Serial No. 661,285,

able ploughing members for e'ecting the furrows in the ground. The parts just mentioned, however, are not included in the present invention and for that reason they are not shown or described.

On the fra-me 1 of the machine, carried by the supporting wheelsl (not showny in Fig. 1)y a funnel shaped receptacle 2 for the po'- tatoes is fixed. At the bottomy of the receptacle 1 er near the same aV shaft 3 is journaled, forming rightv angles to the direction, in which the machine is moved. The said shaft is rotated' by the shaft 72 of the supporting wheels by means' of a sprocket wheel 73, fixed on the shaft 72, a chain 6, a sprocket wheel 5 and a clutch a. Two sprocket wheels 8 are fixed to the shaft 3 and endless chains 9 pass round the said wheels 8 and sprocket wheels 10 fixed to a shaft 11, which is journalled at the top edge of the receptacle 2 or near the same. To` the said'chains 9 scoops v12 are fixed, adapted to transport potatoes from the bottom of the receptacle 2 to the top edge of the receptacle.

A sprocket wheel 13 is fixed to the shaft 3 and transmits motion by means of a chain 14 to a sprocket wheel 15 rotating on a pin 16, carried by the frame of the machine in any suitable manner. rlhe said pin 16 and apin 16X on a line with the pin 16, see also Fig. 4c, carries a swingable frame 17. ln Fig. 4 the said pin 16 is shown fixed to a stay 18, extending between the receptacle 2 and the frame 1. Preferably, the pin 16 is fixed in a corresponding manner. The: object of the swinging capacity of the frame 17 is stated below. i

A toothed wheel 19 is rotatably mounted on the pin 16 and firmly connected with the sprocket wheel 15. The said wheel 19 meshes with a toothed wheel 20, fixed to a short shaft 21, journalled in the frame 17, Figs. 1 and 5. To the said shaft 21 a Wheel 22 is fixed, which is provided with teeth only on certain parts of its circumference for the purpose stated below.

ln the frame 17 a shaft 26 is journalled, which is parallel to the shaft 3. A toothed wheel 27 is fixed to the shaft 26 and co-opcrates with the wheel 22 by the toothed parts of the latter engaging the teeth of the wheel 27, so that the latter is rotated for the periods during which the said toothed parts pass the wheel 27. Those parts of the circumference of the wheel 22, which have no teeth, do not actuate the toothed wheel 27 in any manner. Consequently, the wheel 22 will impart to the wheel 27 and the shaft 26 an intermittent rotary motion. The periods of motion 'and rest are determined by the length of the toothed parts of the wheel 22 and the distances between the said parts, and besides the'lengths of the said periods are determined by the rotary velocity of the wheel 22.

Special means are provided for holding the toothed wheel 27 and the shaft 26 in a distinct position during the period of rest. ln the form of the invention shown in the drawings the saidomeans comprise two cooperating cam disks 28 and 29. Cam disk 28 is fixed to the short shaft 21 and cam disk 29 is fixed to the shaft 26 (Figs. 5 and 6). Fig. 6 illustrates the manner, in which the projections a of the disk 28 prevents the shaft 26 from rotating, while the said projections a respectively are located opposite to the intervals respectively between the projections b of the disk 29. As soon as one of the projections b enters into one of the spaces between the projections a, the shaft 26 can rotate freely. rlhe said mode of operation is gained by the projections of one of the disks being greater than the intervals between the projections of the other disk and by the projections of the disk last mentioned being shorter than the intervals between the projections of the disk first Y mentioned. Fig. 7 shows the position of the toothed parts of the Vwheel 22 in respect to the projections a of the disk 28. From the above statements and an inspection of Figs. 6 and 7 it is easily appreciated how the shaft 26 is intermittently rotated by the shaft 21 and the shaft 26 prevented from rotating while resting.

Two needle-wheels 37 are fixed to the shaft 26. In the drawings each of the said needle-wheels comprises radial arms, which on their free ends are provided with a number of projections or needles 38. The said needle-wheels 27 are located under the upper turning point of the scoops 12 and in front of the same. rlhe arms of the needlewheels are so positioned, that one of the arms of each wheel extends vertically upwards, when the shaft 26 is secured in one of its positions of rest.

In order that the potatoes delivered by the scoops 2 at the top edge of the receptacle 2 may pass along predetermined paths and strike the needles extending upwards in a reliable manner, guiding and admitting devices are provided between the top parts of the transporters 9, 12 and the needlewheels. Each of the said devices comprises a substantially vertical tube 39, fixed to the receptacle'2 or to the frame of the machine. In the said tube 39 two shafts 40 and 41 are journalled, Fig. 1, to which shutters 42 and 43 respectively are fixed, so that the tions.

with a swingable arm 48, and link 47 is' connected with an arm 49. Link 46 extends beyond the connection point of the arm 48, the extension constituting a nose piece 50,

which vnormally is located in the pathl ofV three projections 51, which are provided on the cam disk 28 and as theyl strike the nose piece 50, each move the same away, so that the link 46 is raised, the arm 44 swung upwards, the shaft 40'rotated and the shutter 42 swung downwards. A potato, carried by the shutter 42 will then fall down in the tube 39 and is caught by the shutter 43, which now is in closed position. As soon as the projection 51 has actuated the nose piece 50 the parts are returned to their normal positions by a spring 52.

A part of the arm 49 also projects into the path of the projections 51, so that the link 47 is actuated by the same in substantially the same way as the link 46. A spring 53 returns the link 41 and the parts connected with the same to their normal posi- Links 46 and 47 are raised alternately, so that the shutters 42 and 43 are opened alternately. The shutter 43 is opened substantially at the same moment at which one o-f the arms of the corresponding needle-wheel 37 extends upwards and is at a standstill. Fig. 6 shows the lower shutter 43 in its open position. The arrow, Fig. 6, indicates the rotary direction of the cam disk 28.

Owing to the provision of two shutters in each tube the total fall is divided, which is of importance in respect of the length of the period, during which the needle-wheels are held stationary, is comparatively short. lf the fall is too great, the potatoes have no time to strike'the needles during the stop.

A shaft 56, Figs. 6 and 8,-is journalled in the frame 17 and provided with two fork shaped arms 57, adapted to remove at certain moments from the,v needle-wheels those potatoes which have been caught by the saine. An arm 58 is fixed to the shaft 56 and connected with one end of a link 59,7the other end of which is connected with the link 47. Owing to this arrangement the said shaft 56 will he actuated byv the link 47 and rotated through a certain angle, while the link 47 is raised. 1n this manner the fork shaped arms 57 are swung through a certain angle, removing the potatoes from the needle-wheel each time the said wheels are at a standstill i. e. substantially at the same time as the shutters 43 are opened and Vtwo potatoes fall down and stick fast to the needle arms extending upwards.

Under and in front of the needle-wheels toes removed from the needle-wheels and passing to the ground. The said means consist of two tubes 62, each provided with a shutter 63, which is opened and shut in the same manner as the shutters 42 and 43 by means of an arm 64, which is fixed to the shaft of the shutter 63 and the free end of which is located in the path of the one arm of a two armed lever 65, which is pivoted to the frame of the machine and the other arm of which is located in the path of projections of a disk 66, fixed to the shaft 26 cf the needle-wheels (Figs. 8 and 9). Shutter 63 is held in its close-d position by a spring or counter-weight (not shown).

Owing to the fact that the frame 17 is swingable, the shaft 26 of the needle-wheels 37 always will occupy a position straight under the tubes 39 independent of the slanting position of the machine forward or backward while moved on uneven ground. This is necessary, in order that the needlearms extending upwards always may be located straight under the tubes 39.

As learned from the practice, the potatoes contained in the receptacle 2, preferably, .may be subjected to a shaking action, so that they are moved from the center of the receptacle outwards toward the end walls of the same and are there caught by the scoops 12. For the said purpose two cam disks 67 or the like (Figs. 10 and 11) are fixed to the shaft 3, the projections 68 of which actuate rollers 69, journalled on swingable arms 70. Arms 70 carry a cap 71 (Fig. 1) or the like, centrally located near the bottom of the receptacle. 2, to which a shaking movement is imparted by the shaft 3 by means of the device just statcd. so that the potatoes are subjected to the said shaking operation.

The rear end of the frame 1 is carried by a journal 74, provided on the shaft 72 and so constructed, that the frame 1 can oscillate on the said shaft 72 as well as on a shaft 75 forming right angles to the shaft 72. To the frame 1 guides 76 are fixed, which embrace the shaft 72. The fore part of the frame is carried by a carriage in such manner, that the rear part of the frame is not prevented in any way from moving as stated. By the described suspension device the advantage is gained, that the receptacle 2 as well as the shaft 26 of the needle-wheels always occupy a horizontal position in spite of the unevenesses of the ground, which is of great importance for the proper operation of the machine.

rihe machine operates in the following manner. is the machine is advanced and the clutch 4 is in operative position the rotary motion of the supporting wheels is transmitted to the shaft 3 by means of the snaft 72 of the said wheels, sprocket wheel 73, chain 6 and sprocket wheel 5. The conveyors are thus held in motion, so that the scoops 12 transport potatoes from the bottom of the receptacle 2 to the top edge of the same, from which the potatoes fall down into the tube 39. Sprocket wheel 13, chain 14, sprocket wheel 15, toothed gearing 19, 20, and toothed wheels 22 and 27 transmit the rotary motion of the shaft 3 to the shaft 26, so that the intermittent movement, stated above, is imparted to the latter, bringing the arms of the needle-wheel 37 by turns into a vertical position under the tubes 39. At the same time the projections 51 actuate the links 46 and 47, so that the shutters 42 and 43 are opened alternately. To the potatoes falling down into the tubes 39 such a motion direction is imparted by the tubes and the shutters 42 and 43 that they drop when located straight above the needles, extending upwards. Shutters 42 and 43 ensure the delivering of the potatoes to the needles at predetermined moments and renders possible a comparatively great velocity of the conveyors. lf, for any reason, more than one potato falls down on the upward extending needle-arm, only one of the same is caught, while the other one or the other ones will fall down at the side of the caught potato and into a box (not shown) fixed to the frame 17.

The fork shaped arms 57 are oscillated by the stated means and remove the potatoes from the needles, so that they fall down into the tubes 62, from which they are dropped to the ground by the shutters 63.

The furrows, in which the potatoes should be located at predetermined distances, may evidently have been effected previously by means of ploughs suitably adapted for the purpose, but, preferably, a ploughing device, which may be raised and lowered, is combined with the present machine, for effecting the furrows during the advancing of the machine. rIhe said device may be of any known construction.

The form of the invention described above and shown in the drawings, is to be considered only as an example for the explaining of the invention, which may be varied within wide limits especially concerning the motion transmitting means. The main point is that an intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the needlewheels and the said wheels are secured in their position of rest in a fully reliable manner, and that the means admitting the potatoes to the needle-wheels and removing the same from the wheels operate in a satisfactory manner. The number of arms of the needle-wheels and the length of the periods, during which the needle-wheels are at a standstill may, evidently, be varied as wanted, and in connection therewith the distance of the scoops of the conveyors is altered for instance by removing every other scoop. 'lhe number oit conveyors and needlewheels may, evidently, be varied and so on.

li claim:

l. ln machines tor setting potatoes of that type, in which the potatoes, ted from a receptacle, fall down and are caught by needles or projections provided on one or more rotating members or wheels an arrangement characterized by the Yfact that such motion transinittii members provided between the supporting ot the machine and the needle rotary motion is imparted to the needlewheels7 while the machine advanced, the angle ot rotation l the length ot the pettl'. riods of rest being` unnriable and the neel f secured in their po.-

die-wheels automatica sitions ci rest members combined with the said .notion emitting members,

2. A device as stated in claim l characterby tubes located above and below the needle-wheels and provided with swingable controlling shutters or the like, whicl are connected with the members transinittingr motion'tothe needle-wheels in such manner, that the shatters are opened and shut at predetermined moments dependent on the intermittent movements oi the needle-wheels.

3. A device as stated in claim 2 characterized by the tact that in each admit/ting` tube two shutters are provided, which open and close the passage alternately.

el. fr machine as stated in claim l characterized by the motion transmitting members, provided between the supportingwheels and the needle-wheels, comprising aY toothed wheel fixedV to the shaft of the needle-wheel, and cio-operating with a toothed wheel7 which is provided with teeth only at certain parts of its circiimiqerence, located at 4the saine distance from each other9 and which by means oi1 'toothed gearings7 sprocket wheels and chains is rotated by the supporting wheels.

5. A machine as stat-ed in claim l, characterized by the tact that the members, transmitting motion to the needle-wheels, actuate conveyors, transporting potatoes from the wheels, that an intermittenty hiermee bottom of the receptacle and delivering the saine to the needle-wheels.

6. Ei machine as stated in claim l characterized by the securing members comprising two cooperating` cam disks or'the like.

i. f'rdevice asstated in claim 6 characterized by the. distances between the progections oi one ot the said cam disks being greater than the distancesbetween the projectionsV traine otth 'carrying torn shaped er s., the shan ts of which normally Vare located the path of the potatoes caught by the n y thesaid forli shaped Varms being adap certain moments to removefroml trie needle-wheels the potatoes caught by the saine and the said shaft being actif-,ated in such manner by the members transmitting nic-tion to the needle-wheels, that the arms are swung outward from the needle-wheels, when the latter-are in their position of rest.

9. Ik machine as stated in claim l characterizcd by the receptacle and the needlewheels being,` carried by a. frame or the like, 1which is suspended in such manner, that the receptacle and the shat't ot the needle-wheels olv-rays occupy a substantially horizontal position in spite ot unevennesses of the ground.

lo. Si machine as stated in claim l, characterized bythe actthat the shaft ci the needle-wheels is `journalled in aswingable traineY so that the needlefwheels alwaysA will occupy a position substantially straight below the admitting' tubes in spits of unevennesses o' the ground or its slanting position. in testimony whereof l have Vailiized my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

Witnesses STURE GIRDINGER, L. BERGRONCHIDE. 

